What Causes Cough

Cough can be very irritating, annoying and embarrassing too. Cough helps in clearing the particles and helps to prevent the infection in lungs. But if you have chronic cough then there can be a serious cause behind it. Only a doctor can tell the cause behind your persistent cough. So if you are coughing from several weeks then it is better to consult a doctor. There can be many causes behind cough:

Irritant and allergens can also cause you to cough. Second hand smoke if inhaled can cause coughing. Other air pollutants can also irritate lungs and can cause cough. Cough can be well treated if the underlying cause can be properly diagnosed. Postnasal drip, nasal glucocorticoids, oral antihistamines, nasal sprays can be used to treat cough problem. If the cough is mild and due to common cold then cough syrups can be used which can be bought over the counter. Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. If you have dry, irritating cough then cough suppressants can be used. You can also face the problem of coughing at night. It can be due to asthma, sinus and iron deficiency. You should immediately contact your doctor if you see these symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness, sudden weight loss, fever. You should not neglect this problem. You should try to diagnose the problem as soon as possible and getting the treatment accordingly. Your doctor will be able to tell you the main cause of cough and will prescribe you medicines. He/she will examine you properly and will ask you the medical history. If needed he/she can perform a chest X-ray or any other kind of blood tests in order to know the exact problem. If overlooked, it can result into severe problems which will then be difficult to get cured. You should not try home remedies to reduce the discomfort caused due to cough for more than 2 weeks. If it is chronic cough, then medical attention should be taken.